Flying-machine.



- R. M. SMITH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APBLIGATION HLED 11111141.1911,

1,128,378. "Patented Feb.16,1915.

R. M. SMITH..

FLYING MAGHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.11. 1911.

WLM/wwe@ Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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R. M. SMITH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLATION FILED MAR. 11, lJlL, 1,128,378. Patented Feb.16, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, w25@ @2m/w R. M. SMITH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.11. 1911.

1,128,378. Patented Feb.16,1915

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Sme/whom L Patente Feb, 16, i915.

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. possesses a UNITED sTATEs PATENr onirica.

REXFORD M. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA, ASSIGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CONNECTICUT AIRCRAFT COMPANY, 0F lNEW HAVEN,.CON

FLYING-MACHINE.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REXFoRD M. SMITH, a citizen of the United-States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the aeroplane or heavier-than-air type, the main object of the invention being to provide a machine of this character which high degree of inherent` lateral and longitudinal stability and operates automatically to maintain toa large extent its poise or balance While in flight or in the act of landing after a flight, which will therefore have a desirable steadiness of mo tion in flight and during landing descents so as to decrease the amount of strain upon the machine and enable landings to be easily and safely made, and which further embodies means giving'greater ease and sensi-k tiveness of manual control in its various steering and balancing operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which may be readily and conveniently set up for use and taken down for storage or transportation; to provide a novel construction of wing surfaces and ailerons whereby the machine may be sensitively balanced in a lateral direction and banked in making turns; to provide a simple, strong and durable Aframe structure which combines maximum rigidity with a minimum amount of weight andmaterial; to provide a simple, reliable and effective type of launching and landing gear including yieldingly supported wheels and means whereby the extent of yielding motion thereof may be regulated as occasion requires; and to provide a novel type of horizontal rudder whereby increased efficiency of action in maintaining the longitudinal balance of the machine and steering the same vertically is obtained.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described andv claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a` top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

pair of posts Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application filed March 11, 1911. Serial No: 613,874.

front elevation of the main central frame or fuselage and chassis or carriage. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation ofthe horizontal and vertical rudders and the means for controlling the same. Fig. G is a view in side elevation, showing a modified construction of rudder plane adapted for use as either an aileron or horizontal rudder.l

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the outer end of one of the main plane wings and the means for flexing the associated aileron. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail-section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional side elevation of one of the skids and one of the sets of supporting wheels. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the same. Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are detail sections on the lines 12F-12, 13-13 and 144-14 of Fig. 10. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame of one of the main planes. spective view of the frame of one of the rudder planes. showing one of the socket and tenon ioint connections.

In the illustrated embodiment, showing the application of the invention to a headless biplane machine, 1 designates a central main frame or fuselage forming the supporting structure proper of the machine and including in its organization the chassis or carriage and the car or-.platform serving as the vehicle for the pilot or aviator,'the passengers or freight, if any, and the various controlling devices. This frame or. fuselage is preferably of frustopyramidal form and comprises front and rear pairs of upwardly converging corner posts Q connected and braced by suitable cross pieces 3 and truss wires 4, the lower or diverging ends of each being connected, if desired, by an arched brace 5, whereby' great strength and durability is secured.

T o the lower ends of the posts 2 are bolted orotherwise secured skids or runners 6 which project in front and rear of the frame and are preferably provided with upturned front ends 7. These skids are reinforced from the corner posts by braces 8 and the front ends thereof carry vertical fins 9 which are secured thereto and to the front posts and to braces 10 connecting the forward ends of the skids with said front posts. These fins operate as vertical, surfaces to prevent lateral deflection of the machine from its Fig. 16 is a per- Fig. 17 is a detail section,

propel' line of travel under the pressures of gusts ot' air upon the tail frame and vertical rudder. Arranged in'the space between the lower ends of the posts isa car 11 extending longitudinally in the line of flight and with in which are arranged the seats for the pilot and passengers and the controlling devices, hereinafter described. This car is substantially boat-shaped and has the side walls 12 of its body or hull converging at their lower ends to form a keel 13 and thence curving upwardly and outwardly toward the sides of the frame. At its top the car is provided with a gunwale 14 forming a wind shield as well as a cockpit through which the head of the pilot projects, the bow and stern portions ol" the car being reinforced by arched braces 15 which connect with the upper edges ot' the walls 12 and the post 2 and operate in conjunction with the braces 5 to firmly support the car in position.

A tail fraaie 16 of suitable form is fixed to the main frameor fuselage 1 and is provided with a trail runner or its equivalent 17 which supports the weight of the tail frame when the machine is at rest and protects the same from shocks and jars in landing. This runner in conjunction with the skids or runners 6 and cushioned wheels 18 mounted 0n the latter provide a preferred type of launching and landing gear. The wheels 18 are arranged in airs on opposite sides of the respective skids 6 at a point about in line with the center of gra\ ity of the machine when in a flying attitude, each pair of wheels being journaled upon an axle 19 extending across the skid and carrying a grooved pulley or spool 20 which normally rests upon the skid and holds the axle from relative transverse movement. The spool is held centered and from longitudinal movement on the axle by coiled springs 20a sur` rounding the axle between said spool and clips 2Ob fixed to the axle. Each axle is carried by a fork 21 secured to the clips and pivoted to the adjacent front post 2, as at 22, for swinging movement in a vertical plane and, is normally held in engagement with the skid by a resilient backing or shock absorber preferably composed of .one or more rubber bands 23 extending longitudinally above the skid and bearing intermediately upon the spool 20. A pin or bolt 24 engages the front bights of the bands 'and fastens the saine to a holding bracket composed of a pair of spaced plates 25 fixed to the skid, and a similar pin or bolt 26 passes through the rear bights of the bands and connects the same with a. rear holding bracket 27 composed of a pair of spaced plates pivotally connected at their lower ends with the skid, as at 2S. Brace plates 29 are pivotally connected at their upper forward ends with the upper ends of the bracket plates 27 by a pin or bolt 30 and have their lower rear ends ycured sections. of a covering fabric.

lassen arranged to straddle the adjacent rear brace 8 and adjacent brace irons 31 and are formed with a. plurality of perforations 32.f0r the passage of a bolt 33 adjustablyconnecting said brace plates with the braces 8 and irons 31. By this construction a suitable implement or draft device may be connected with .the bracket 27 to draw the latter rearwardly,

' 34 and 35 may haie any desired fore and aft curvature, and cach is preferably constructed of two or more trame sections, to which are laced or otherwise suitably se- The frame of each plane section comprises front and rear longitudinal frame 'beams 36 and 37 connected by end pieces 38 and ribs 39, each rib and end piece beingr of maximum thickness-from the front edge oi the plane to a point substantially coincident with the highest point of curvature of the plane, as indicated at 40, and thence gradually tapered toward their rear ends, as indicated at il. By this construction the front porj tion of each plane is rendered rigid and inflexible` while the rear portion thereof gradually increases in flexibility toward the rear edge of the plane, the rear portion of each plane thus being adapted to yield or Hex to simulate the air-shedding action of the wing feathers of a bird, whereby longitudinal stability is promoted and the undue retention of air beneath the plane prevented. As shown, the lower plane 34 is composed of two demountable wing sections 42 and 43, which preferably incline at a dihedral angle and have the inner ends of their longitudinal frame bars formed to fit within sockets 44 fixed on the central main frame l, preferablyat the points of junotion of the post 2 with the side walls of the car 11 and the braces 15, whereby the parts are coupled to reinforce each other. Byr this construction the Wing sections have a slip joint connection with the main frame so that they may be applied by a relative sliding movement at right angles t0 the direction of length ofthe machine, bolts or other suitable fastenings 45 being employed to couple the parts together. Hence, the wing sections may be conveniently applied l in assembling the `machine and as conveniently detached for storage or transportation. When thus fitted in position the wings will be rigidly supported against movement at. the joints and liability O Collapse under air pressure. l

The upper plane 35 is preferably formed of a stationary central section 46 fixed to the fuselage or main frame and wing sections' 47, the longitudinal frame bars of said central section being provided with sockets 48 to receive the inner ends of the longitudinal frame bars of the wing section, whereby the wings of the .upper plane arealso rendered conveniently demountable by slip joint connections. The wings of the two planes are connected at intervals around their margins by the usual stanchions 49 Aand wire trusses 50, which stanchicns and trusses are connected in any suitable manner with the wing frames to admit of the ready assemblage and disassemblage of the parts. Trss wires 51 and 52 are also arranged between the `keel of the car and skids 6 and tbe wing sections of the lower plane, and truss wires ,\3 extend from the body of the cante' the having sections of the upper plane'whe'reby both planes are firmly fastenedetothe-fiiselage or central frame and the wingl sections thereof braced and held from any possibility of casual disconnection.4 The lu per plane is provided withV marginal or en ex# tensions 54 which extend beyond theflateral ,margins .of the lower' plane and'tbius, in-

crease the spread of the upper plane v'with respect to the lower plane.- By the provision of these marginal extensions 54 and the arrangement of thewings ofthe lower plane at adihedral anglethe snoporting'surfaces themselvesetend to correct lateral oscillations 'of the'machine and to restore the lateral balange-if disturbed, thus giving the machine fm fcient @meurt cf inherent laterale@- bility..

'i the-:istantanea aaa bankingaie machine construct the marginal the form of aileronsv 4or stabilizers,v each, comprisin a frm@ `55 made upl of front and. rear ars 56 and 57, side barsl 58 and ribs 59 pverfwhich-is stretched a suitable fabricoovering. The frame of the aileron is` formed to.' provide tenons or projections 60 which enter sockets .in mating tems,

extenslons 5ft 1n 61 on the frames of the upperplane wings and are securedv thereto by bolts 62,'whereby the ailerons may be'conveniently `applied and detached'. The ribs 'and side, bars `rof theailerons'have fixed front portipns rein forced bya stay rod 5,9 andtapering or reduced rear portions making .the front portion'l-ta of each aileron rigid or infiexible and the rear portion 54h thereof fiexible in a vertical plane, said rigid portions of the ailerons being reinforced from the lower plane wings by braces 54. aileron curved at its front portion to' conform 'to' the curvature of the front portion of the main Y plane between the meeting eds@ 0f the Plaatpwipos @man .Wal-mg and its highest point of curvature, or point of greatest depth of its chord, thus forming a lifting surface to -coperate with the plane, and from this point the fiexible portion vof the aileron extends horizontally so-as to occupy a normal level above thesupporting surface at the adjacent margin j of the plane for an Auplifting effect, or it may be bent upwardly to a like degree to reduce the area ofthe supporting surface for a depressing effect upon the adjacent 'margin' of the plane. Connectedvwith the rear edge of :the flexible portion of-'- each aileron is a vertically sliding rod or link 63 movable in a guide bracket 64 secured tothe rearvframe .bar of the adjacent' wing frame, in whichA bracket are journaled guide pulleys 65 and 6,6` overV which pass controlling wires or cables 67 and 68 connected respectively at their adjacent ends to the flexible'portion of the aileron and lower end of the rod. These cords or cables lead over suitable guides to a controlling device, not shown, on the car whereby the flexible portions ofthe Atwo ailerons may be simultaneously flexed in opposite directions. It will be apparentthat this construction of the aileronsenables a very'sensitive degree of control to be vvo b- -tained without any material increase 1n the head resistance, lparticularly banking operations.

Mounted upon the tail viframe isalaterall y swinging vertical rudder 69,;and in rear lthereof, is arranged a horizontal rudder preferablyI consisting of two superposed tplanes 70 and 71, each vformedofa frameV and a fabric covering. The lframes of these rndder planes are .constructed like the frames of the wings ofthe Amaniplane and the aileron planes, that is to say, have rigid or inflexible front portions and fiexible rear portions. The rigid portions of said rudderk planes are stayed by connecting braces 72 and truss wires 73 and are suitably xed to,

the tail frame, as at 74', while their exible portions are free for movement in a vertical plane and are coupled by link stays 74 for movement in unison.` Control cords or wires 75 lead from the vertical rudder 69 to the car and pass over guide pullevs 76 jour naled on a post or stem 77 pivotally mounted on the car to swing in a. fore and aft di rection, and the terminals of said cords or wires pass through guides 7 8 and are wound. in opposite directions around a drum or pulley 79 carried by ashaft 80 to which is' connected a steering wheel 81, whereby the drum may be turned in either directionl `.taken up by the shock absorbers and parto swing the rudder. Other controlling 5 cords or wires 82 pass over guide pulleys 83 on the tail frame and are crossed and connected at their rear ends with the flexible portions of the horizontal lrudder planes.

These cords or wires 82 thence extend forwardly to the car and are crossed and respectively connected with thel upper and lower ends of the lswinging post 7.7, so that when said post is swung forwardly vor rearwardly by means of the h and wheel 81 the rudder. planes may be simultaneously flexed upward or downward to steer the machine in a vertical .plane I In Fig. 6, I have shown a modified form of horizontal rudder which may be emf 2o ployed, if desired, as an aileron'between the lateral margins of the planes, in which form ltherudder consists of a single plane 84 hav` ing a rigid front prtion 85 and a flexible rear portion 86, the 'frame of this rudder plane being of the same generalconstruction as 'the frames of the main`plane wings and `ailerons .hereinbefore' described. The plane 81 is pivotally mounted to swing on horizontal axes 87 on converging bars 88 of.

3.0 the taill frame, between which bars the por- ,tion 85 of the rudder extends and is movableto an extent limited by upper and lower 'stop devices 89. Lever arms 90 vare pivotally mounted on the frame andare connected with the controlling wires 82` .and -further connected'with the rear edgev of the flexible, portion .86 of the rudder pla-ne by Wires or 'connections 91. l By this construction motion may be transmitted to the rudder plane to 40 flex vthe flexible portion'l 86 to any degree desired either upwar'dor downward, aswell as to swing-the plane bodily on its axis. It

will be understood that in the movement of' Y the plane in eitherdirection, the portion .86

'45 willfirst be flexed slightlyiand the planeY V then tilted through the pull thereon tothe 'extent limited by the coactin'g stop ,89,l after which a continued pull will result in the 'portion 82 being flexed to al greater degree.

cated in Fig. 2, or at a suitable elevation upon the central main frame or fuselage 2. In either arrangement' the weight ofthe motor, car andfrei ht oepassengers will -sebe directly sustained by the main central rame,'skids and supportingwheels and removed rom the planes, so that all shocks and jars in landing, etc., will be partially tially transmitted to the main frame, preventing lthe-transmission of strain to. the wing frames. p

It will be observedthat from the construcl tion described, that the shockvabsorbers'may be tensioned to'alny'degreev required under dill'erent contingencies of service, according to the varying weight of the machine under different conditions, and nature of the surface of the ground mthe regiony inwhich flights are iliade, `while provision is' also made for sensitive manual control 'of the machine and an inherent degree of automatic balancing action renderingthe ma.- chinefsteadyin flight. By the sectional constructionjof the frame and described mode 35 of connecting the parts thereof, .the machine may be readily, quickly and conveniently Y set up for use orA taken down for storage or transportation. It'will also be observed that the car 11 in addition to serving as a stabil- 90 .ity fin to preventskiddinv, forms a part of' the lower supporting surface, as the walls 12 constitute inclined -continuations of the inner ends of the wings 42 and 43.

It will be understood that the term steer-V ing plane as employed in the appended claims contemplates and includes ailerons, rudders and-other controlling planes, how ever mounted or arranged, except when specifically defined inthe claims. a

Having thus described the invention, I' claim:v-'` A;

1. In a flying machine, a steering plane having a curved rigid front portion, and Va. straightfl'exible. rear portionparranged in means forflex'ing' said flexible rear poi-tion f perpendicularly to and Vin either-direction beyondthe planeof said rigid front portion. 111g 2.3In la flying [machine, a steering plane havingfa' curved rigid Tfront portionv kand `a 'straight exible rear portion -fixedly v con-Y nectedtherewith, said flexibleV rear AportionV beingarrangedin the horizontal plane of 115 the deepest portion ofthe curve of said rigid curved portion and constituting a rela'- tively thinner'continua'tion of said rigid curved portion, and means for flexmg said lflexible portion perpendicularly to and in either direction beyond the `plane of said rigid front portion. 3. In a flying machine, a supporting surface curved in a fore and aft direction and provided at its extremities with steering each provided withV a straight, flexible rear portion disposed .horizontally above the .51'05- the horizontalv plane of the deepest' portion .of the 'curve of said rigid front portion, and

plane of the supporting surface in rear of its camber line and at a neutral angle relative to the angle of incidence of said sup plane, each of said extended ends of theA upper supporting plane embodying a rigid,

front portion forming a'part of said upper plane and having a corresponding positive angle of incidence and a straight flexible rear portionl lying horizontally above the plane of said supporting plane `rear of its camber line and having a neutral angle of incidence, said flexible portions of the extended ends of the upper supporting plane being adjustable upwardly or downwardly from their normal positions, and means for so adjusting said flexible portions of the plane extensions.A

5. In a flying machine, a horizontal steering plane having a curved'rigid front portion and a flexible rear portion, said flexible rear portion being straight and arranged in the horizontal Vplane of the crest of 'the rigid curved portion, and being bodily flexible upwardly or downwardly from its normal plane, and means for so flexing said flexible portion.

6.-In a flying machine, a swinging steerling plane having a fixed, rigid front portion and a flexible rear portion, said flexible rear portion being continuous with said rigid front portion, and a single controlling means directly connected with said flexible portion for both swinging the plane in a predetermined arc and then flexing its flexible portion;

7. In a flying machine, a swinging steering plane having a rigid, comparatively thick inflexible front portion and a flexible vrelatively attenuated rear portion, said portions being rigidly united, and.`adjusting means directly connected'with said flexible portion for both swinging the plane in a predetermined arc and then flexing said flexible portion on an arc of greater degree than its arc of body movement.

8. In a flying machine, a pivotally mounted steering plane having a rigid front portion an a flexible rear portion, means for swinging the `plane, and flexing its flexi- `ble portion, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the plane to a degree less than the amplitude of flexibility of said flexible portion.

9. In a flying machine, a pivotally mounted. steering plane having a rigid front portion and a flexible rear portion, stops for limiting the pivotal motion of said plane,Y

and a controlling means operative to both 'swing the plane and flex the. flexible portion thereof, for flexing said flexible portion beyond the plane of the pivotal movement of said steering plane.

10. Ina flying machine, a supporting surthe rear portion` of the supporting surface,

and means for flexing said flexible portionsv of the ailerons perpendicularly to tlie plane of the supporting surface.

11. In a flying machine, a supporting surface curved between its front and rear edges, ailerons at the ends of said supporting/surface having rigid front portionsfornnng a part of said supporting surface and curved to conform thereto and flexible rear portions extendingliorizontally above the rplane of the rear portionbf the supporting surface, a link depending from the flexible portion ,of each aileron, a downwardly flexing corinection attached to the flexible portion of the aileron, and an upwardly flexing connection for imparting upward motion to the link.

12. In a flying machine, a pivotally mounted steering plane, rigid in advance and flexible in rear of its pivotal axis, means coactiiig with the rigid portion of said plane for limiting the pivotal motion thereof, and means for swinging said plane on its pivot and then flexing its flexible portion.

13. In a flying machine, a lower plane, a curved upper plane having its lateral margins extending beyond the lateral margins of the lower plane, said lateral margins of "the upperI plane including rigidfront poriio 14. In a flying machine,I a supporting plane curved downwardly .and rearwardly between its fore and aft edges, ailerons at the ends of said plane, each having a rigid portion curved to conform toand extending between the fore edge and the highest point of curvature of said plane and a` normally straight flexible portion extending horizon-V tally above the level of the plane in. rear of said point of highest curvature, and .means for bending or flexing the flexible portions of said ailerons either upward or downward.

15. In a flying machine, a supporting surface curved in a fore-and-aft direction, steering planes at the lateral extremities of said supporting surface, said planes having curved rigid front portions curved to con form. to the curvature of the supporting surface in advance of its camber line, and straight, relatively attenuated flexible rear portions extending horizontally above the plane of the supporting surface in rear of its camber line, and means for flexing said flexible portion of the steering planes either upwardly or downwardly.

16. In a flying machine, a central frame, a boat-shaped car mounted on said frame and having sides sloping to form a keel .and diverging on curved lines upwardly and outwardly therefrom, a lower plane formed of wings supported by said frame and inclining dihedrally from the upper edges of said sloping sides, an upper plane supported by the frame and having lateral mar isnal portions extending beyond the lateral' 'margins of the lower lane, and meansfforelexing portions of saidlateral marginal extensions of said upper plane.

17. In a flying machine, .a main frame, a car mounted thereon, receiving sockets at the intersection of the car and marin frame, a lower supporting surface conlpisingv wings having Vtongues to engage said sockets, an upper supporting surface comprising a central sectionrfixed to the main frame and provided with receiving sockets and wing sections having tongues engaging said sockets, the saidwing sections of the supporting surfaces being connectible with and disconnectible vfrom said sockets byA relative movements'in the direction of length of the supporting surfaces, and stays for bracing said wing sections from the Vmain frame and holding the parts normally assembled.

18. In a flying machine, a supporting surface,` ailerons at the ends of said supporting p surfaces having rigid front portions forming a part of said supporting surface and lying in the plane thereof and flexible rear portions extending horizontally above the plane of the supporting surface, and means for llexing said flexible portionsp'f the ailerons-perpendicularly to the plane of the supporting surface. y

19., In a flying machine, a curved supporting surface having lateral steering planes provided with rigid front portions depthwith said lateral margins of the supporting plane or surface, and having rigid front portions lying substantially in the plane of said supporting plane or surface and flexible rear portions lying out,l of the plane of said surface, and means for warpving the flexible portions of the ailerons or lying in the planeof said surface and curved to conform thereto between its leading edge and camber line, and provided withpsubsteering planes either upward or downward from their normal position.

21. In a flying machine, a central' f rame, 1

a boat-shaped car mounted on''said frame and having sides sloping to form a leel and diverging on curved lines upwardly and out-4 wardly therefrom, a lower plane formed of wings supported by said frame and extend- -ing from the upper edges of said sloping sides, an upper plane supported by the frame and having lateral marginal portions extendingvbeyond the lateral margins 4of the lower plane, and means for flexing the flexible portions of said lateral marginal extensionsl of said upper plane.

22. In a flying machine, a main frame and chassis of substantially frusto-triangular or pyramidal form, a car supported by the lower portion of said frame, an upper plane composed of a central section fixed to the/f main frame'and wing sectionsprovided with tongue and socket connections, and a lower plane composedof wing sections having tongue and socket connections with` the main frame, the sections of the planes being movable in the direction of length ofthe planes for coupling and uncoupling action, and stays connecting the parts for holding them normally assembled. i

In testimon whereof I affix my in presence o vtwowitnesses. Y

' REXF'ORD M. SMITH. f

VVitnesses:

C. C. HrNns, BENNETT S, JONES.

signature 

